Wire take off mechanism



Sept. 22,A 1931. A. K. sANDx-:RsoN 1,823,990 I WIRE TAKE-OFF MECHANISM v Filed April 12, 1929 s sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 22, 1931. A. K,- sANDERSoN WIRE TAKE-OFF ME'CHANISM Filed April 12. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 sept. 22, 1931.

A. K. -sANDl-:RsQN

WIRE TAKE-OFF MECHANISM Filed 11pm 12., 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 711/. an demon.

/LYVEJ-Z Patented sep-t.' 22, 1931 untreu-STATES PATENT OFFICE r ARTHUR msANDnRsoN, or Annone, ILLInoIs, .assIciNon To LovE BROTHERS Incon- I'ORATED, or nunon-A, ILLINoIs, A coRronA'rIoN or ILLINOIS WIRE TAKE oFF LIECIIANISM Application filed April 1'2,

5sulating wire or polishing the wire, or rewinding from spool into coil form.

An object of the invention is to provide a takeoff mechanism having a plurality of winding spools which are arranged tobe filled one at a time to allow the removal of the wound wire from one spool while another is being lilled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a take ofi' mechanism having winding spools provided with collapsible lingers forming the front wall or flange of the spool together with a sliding hub connected to the fingers in such fashion as to actuate the same in toggle like manner together .with a lock for securing the parts in operative posi ion.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a spool `for wire take oli mechanism which spool has a drum fashioned as a truncated cone with a fixe-d rear flange or wall and a plurality of fingers pivotedV to the front margin of the drum for extending radially to serve. as the front wallv of the spool and to be moved away into such position as to allow ready removal of the wire wound on the spool together with a sliding hub on the spool shaft connected by links to the lingers in such V manner as to actuate said links in toggle like same together with means manner and a lock on the hub for locking the fingers in extended or active position said lock consisting 'of a the hub and arranged. slightly o center with respect to the same whereby rotation of the hand wheel will cause clamping action lof the hub against the spool axle. l

A still further object of the invention vis to provide a take ofi' mechanism having a plurality of winding spools all driven 'from a common source of power and arranged to be connected or disconnected with such source of power at will, spools being provided fwith pivoted fingers forming the front wall of the onthe spool axle for actuating said fingers tomove the same into substantially radial position for winding wire on the spool or to move said fingersv hand wheel carried on 1929'. seria1No.354,543.

into collapsed position to allow removalv of the wound wire from the spool, the lingers belng actuated by the single member on the spool axle or shaft.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a take ofi' mechanism for wire machines including a plurality of winding spools which are selectively filled with wire, said spools having collapsible fingers serving as the front wall of the same and there being kick oiif levers in the rear wall for starting the wound wire from the hub of the spool when the same has been completely filled and the fingers collapsed.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a take 0H mechanism` for wire machines Awhich is economical to manufacture, eicient in use and certain in operation.

The above, other, and further objectsof the invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

The form of machine chosen to exemplify this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a take o' mechanism showing two winding spools which mechanism embodies this invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the arrangement of Figure 1.

igure 3 is an enlarged central section through one of the winding spools or drums. Figure 4 is a section taken on line IV`V of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of one of the' drums showing the collapsible fingers i The form of mechanism' selected to exemplify this invention is shown as consisting of a frame comprising side members 1 and 2 of Cil 'cast iron connected by cross members 3 the frame being ofcourse rigidly constructed.

' making machine.

A sprocket wheel 8 is keyed to said shaft 4 and another sprocket wheel 9 is also keyed to the shaft. A third sprocket wheel 10 is fa'st on the shaft 4.

A shaft 11 is carried in bearing yblocks 12 on the upper portion of the frame at one end thereof which frame is arranged to extend upwardly from the balance of the same so as to support the shaft 11 above a second shaft 13. y y

A sprocket wheel 14 is carried on the shaft 11 and is free to rotate relatively to the same. A sprocket chain 15 engages sprocket wheel 14 on shaft 11 and sprocket wheel9 on shaft 4 to rotate the sprocket 14 when the power shaft 4 is rotated. The sprocket 14 is provided with clutch dogs 16 for cooperation Y by sliding clutch member 17 splined to the shaft 11. The clutch member 17 is actuated axially of the shaft 11 by suitable connections not shown but which are well understood.

` The shaft 13 is supported in bearing blocks 18 near the other end of the frame structure `ber 21 is actuated in any suitable manner by means not shown as such means are well understood. l

The sprocket 19 on shaft 13 is connected by means ofa sprocket chain 22 to the sprocket wheel 10 on shaft 4.

Another shaft 23' is supported by the side frame members 1 and'2 near the-end of the frame structure in suitable bearings. A sprocket wheel 24is keyed to the shaft 23 n and is connected by means of a sprocket chain 25 to the sprocket 8 on main shaft 4. A worm-A gear 26 is keyed to the shaft 24 for cooperating w1th a worm wheel 27 supported by ayerfvticall disposed stub shaft 28 suitably journalle in the frame. The upper end of the shaft 28 is providedv with a heart shaped cam 29. An axially movable bar is supported in the side frame members 1 and 2 of the structure'and has u standing pins 31 and 32 thereon between which the cam 29 is arranged I 29. Outwardly of the side frame member 2 the bar 30 is provided with two upstanding guides 33 between which is received a wire not shown from a wire machine and which wire is to be wound on-one ofthe spools of the mechanism of this invention. The reciprocating barI 30 and its supported guides 33 serve-to direct the wire being received by the take off mechanism in such manner as to wind the wire evenly on the spools.

.A spool or winding drum A is arranged on the shaft 11 outwardly of the side frame member 2 and a similar spool B is arranged on the shaft 13 outwardly of the side frame member 2. These spools are alike in every particular and one will now be described in detail. l

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a spool or reel embodying' this invention and Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse central section taken substantially on line III-III of Figure 5 however with the fingers in elevation instead of in section.

A spool 'as exemplified herein comprises a drum 34 which in axial section has the appearance of a truncated cone and a back wall 35 integral with the drum 34, the two parts being made as a casting preferably of cast iron. V

A' hub 36 is cast integrally with the back wall 35 and extends inwardly of said wall stopping short of the outer margin of the drum 34. Webs 37 are provided for strengthening the structure. The hub 36 is apertured to receive a shaft'for the spool to which shaft the spool is keyed by a key 38 which is rctained in position by a set screw 39 thus securelyfastening the spool to the shaft 13.

The outer margins of the webs 37 are provided with pairs of spaced ears 40 between which pairs of ears vare pivoted links 41 by rivets or bolts 42 in such manner that every pair of ears 40 supports one of the links 41 in pivotal association. The links 41 are provided with elongated slots 43 near the outer ends of the same. n

Cast integrally with every one of the links 41 is a. finger -44 having a flat surface 45 and a flange Vperpendicular to said fiat surface serving as a reinforcement. The link 41and finger 44 are integral and arranged so that the :mis of the link portion makes an obtuse angle with the flat surface 45. The ears 40 are spaced inwardly a slight'distance from the outer margin of the drum 34 so that when the fingers '44' are pivoted into collapsed position as hereinafter describedthe surfaces 45 of said fingers will lie inwardly of the conical surface extended defined by the drum 34.

A hub 46 is carried on the shaft 13 outwardly of the drum hub 36 and arranged to be movable axially of the shaft as well as relatively rotatable on the same. The hub 46 is provided with a plurality of radially extending arms 47 there being as many arms 47 on wheel is concentric with the shaft 13.

the hub 46 as there are lingers 44 pivoted to the drum.

The hub 46 is slightly eccentric with respect to theshaft 13. The hub 4G is cylindricalv but its axisis displaced a vcry slight distance from the axis ot' the shaft 13. A hand wheel 48 is rotatably associated with the hub 4G and the periphery ot'v ther hand rl`he hub 46 is provided with an annular groove 49 which is concentric with the axis of the hub and eccentric with respect to the axis of the shaft 13. A ring 50 is secured by bolts 51 to the rear side of the hand wheel 48 and cxtends into the groove 49 in the Khub. The innersurface of the ring 5() is eccentric with respect to the shai't 13. The hand wheel 48, the hub 46 and the ring 50 and lthe groove 49 are arranged so that by giving the hand wheel 48 a turn in one direction the hub 46 will be clamped against the shaft 13 to lock the hub on the same and by turning the hand wheel in the opposite direction will unlock the hub. The hand wheel 48 is provided with a re cess 52a in its periphery whereby a spannf-r wrench having a projection may be applied to the hand Wheel with `the projection-in the recess 52a for tightening the handl wheel 48 in locking engagement'should it be impossiblc to tighten the same sufiiciently by hand.

T he outer ends oi' the arms 47 on the hub 4G are provided with apertured spaced ears 52 and pins 53 are arranged in these apertures which pins pass through the slots 43 in the links 41. y

It will be observed that'the hub 4G is so connected by means of its arms 47 with the links 41 ot the lingers 44 that when the hub is moved outwardly as shown in full lines in Figure 3 the. fingers will be extended substantially radially which is the active posi` tion of the same forming the front wall or surface ot the spool and when the hub is inovedinwardly to the dotted line position of Figure 3 the fingers will be collapsed to. allow removal of the wound wire on the spool.

|The locking arrangement heretofore described is suiiicient tolock the hub 46 to the Vshaft with the fingersl in active position which is the full line position ot Figure 3 tightly enough for the purposeintended. The particular arrangement ot the axes of the shaft and the hub is such as to allowT clamping actionoi'v the hub against the shaft when the hand wheel 48 is turned in one direction to tightly lock the parts in adjusted position. lt will be observed that the fingers and the associated links and arms in effect have toggle like action as the hub is moved axially on the shaft the proportion of the parts being such as to prevent accidental collapseof the in` gers when Wire is being woun on vthe spoolI The back wall 35 of the space is provided with several slots 54 for tying the coil of wire on the spool, the slots 54 allowing space for the passing of cord about the coil at three pointsv prior to removal from the spool.

The back wall 35 of the spool is provided with a plurality of radial slots 55 which extend a slight distance inwardly of the drum surface 34., Brackets 5G are secured to the outersurface of the back wall 35 adjacent the lower ends of the slots 55. bracket has a pair of inwardly extending apertured ears 57 to which is pivoted a lever 58 by means of a pin 59. 'lheflever has a rounded end 60 serving as a handle. The lever is provided with an upstanding ear G1 having an aperture 62 in the same into which is hooked one end of a spring 63, the other end of the spring being hooked to an ear 64 on` the bracket 5G. The lever 58 is arranged to be pivoted so as to move inwardly of the back wall 35 against the tension of thc spring 63 for the purpose of freeing/ the wound wire on the drum 35 7shouldperchance the winding beso tight as to prevent rea-dy removal ot' the same by hand. There are several of the levers 58 arranged in the manner heretofore described, three such levers being shown in the draw The operation of the take oil mechanism is as follows:

The take off mechanism' is arranged with respectto a wire machine so that the wire coming from said machine is trainedV be-` tween the guides 33 on the even winding rod .30. rIhe end of the wire is bent and hooked over onejot the fingers 44 in either of the spools A or B which is empty and the clutch controlling said spool is actuated to rotate the saine after the power shaft 4 has been connected to the source of power not shown for driving the shaft. The wire is therefore wound onto such spool by reason ofrotation of the same being wound evenly by the reciprocation of the rod 30 as influenced by the cam 29, the winding continuing unt-il the spool is filled whereupon the wire is cut, the end bent and then hookedaround a finger 4.4 of another ofthe winding spools and the winding started on the spool. The clutch ot the first spool is then disconnected, and the coil of wire is tied through the slots 54 the hand wheel 48 turned to unlock the engageme'nt of the hub46 with its shaft and then the hub is pushed inwardly into dotted line position ot Figure 3 which collapses the iingers 44 allowing removal of the wound wire 'e0 ings arranged at 120O apart although of.

wheel 48 actuated to lock the hub on its shaft from the spool. Should however the wire be so tightly wound as to resist ordinary efforts to remove the same-then the levers 58 may be actuated to kick off the bundle of wire on the drum 34 at least to loosen-these Wires sufficiently so that it maybe readily removed. When the bundle of wir'e has been removed in the manner` just described the hub 46 is moved outwardly to full line position of Figure 3 whereupon the fingers 45 are restoredto normal position and the hand whereupon the spool is ready for filling another time. A

The provision of a take off mechanism with a plurality of winding spools enables continuous operation of a )vire machine thus reducing the cost of operationl ofsuch ma-l chine and increasing its efficiency.

It is of course within the scope of this invention to provide more than two winding spools as illustrated in the drawings there being two spools shown merely for the purposes of illustration. l

The winding spools as before stated are preferably made of cast metal ,with the rear Vwall or ange 35 integral with the conical drum 34 and the fingers 44 serve as front flange members when in active position which is that shown in Figure 3 of the drawings that is when vthe fingers are vsubstantially perpendicular to the shaft and which fingers serve as lateral extensions of the drum 34 Awhen in collapsed position that is when the ing the front frame of the spools, and sliding cylindrical eccentric hubs on the shafts of said spools for moving said fingers into and out of fiange forming position, saidhubs having clamping means thereon for locking4 the same to the spool shafts.

2. A winding spool for wire take of'mechanisms including in combination, a shaft, a

spool having a fixed hub fastened to said shaft, said spool yhaving a back wall or flange and a drum surface, a plurality ,of fin ers pivoted to the margin of said drum, sur ace remote from said back flange arranged to form the front flange members of the spool when said fingers are in one position, a sliding hub on said shaft, said hub being eccentrically arranged on said shaft,.said hub hav Wheel rotatably .mountedl on said hub for clamping said hub' to said shaft by ca'm action.

3. A winding spool for wire take off mechanisms including 1n comblnatlon, a shaft, a

spool having a' fixed hub fastened to said.

shaft, said spool having a back wall or flange and a drum surface, a lurality of fingers pivf i oted to the mar 'n o said drum surface remote from said ack fiange arranged to form the front fiange members of the spool when said fingers are in one position, a sliding hub on said shaft, said hub having a plurallty of arms connected to said fingers for moving the same into and out of position as front fiange members,` said arms and fingers having togglellike action under movement of said sliding hub and means carried by the sliding hub for locking the same to said shaft, said locking means comprising a hand wheel rotatably arranged on said sliding hub the periphery of which wheel is concentric with said shaft, said hub being arranged eccentrically with respect to said shaft,'a ring carried by said hand wheel and frictionally engaging said hub, said ring being eccentrically arrangedA with respect to said shaft, said hand wheel serving to compress the hub against the shaft when turned in one direction to lock said hub to said shaft and to release said hub from such locking engagement when turned in the opposite direction. v

4. A winding snool for wire take off mechanisms including in combination, a shaft, a

spool having a fixed hub fastened to said shaft, said spool having a back Wall or flange and a drum surface, a plurality of fingers I pivoted to the margin of said drum surface remote from said back flange arranged to form the front flange members of the spool v when said fingers are in one position, a sliding hub on said shaft, said hub having a plurality of arms connected to `said fingers for moving the same into and out of position as front fiange members, said arms and fingers having toggle like action under movement of said sliding hub, said sliding hub being eccentrically arranged with respect to the shaft,. said hub having an annular groove nearone end thereof the inner diameter of which iseccentric with respect to the shaft, a hand wheel on said hub concentric with said shaft,

a ring carried by said hand wheel and entering the groove on said hub which ring is ecz centric with respect to said shaft, said hand wheel when turned in one direction acting through said ring to compress said hub against the shaft for locking the hub thereon and when turned in the opposite direction l, releasing said hub from locking engagement with said shaft.- t

5. A winding spool for Wire take off mechanisms including in combination, a shaft, a spool having a back Wall or fia-nge and a'drum' surface, said back flange having, a plurality of radiallyextending recesses formed therein, levers pivoted to said back Wall and arranged to swing through said recesses under certain conditions, the inner surfaces of said` arms normally lying Within the inner surface of said back flange, said arms being arranged to be pivoted'towards the front of said spool for dislodging Wire Wound on the same, and

means for returning said arms to normal o1' inactive position. f

6. A Winding spool for Wire take off mech-J L anisms including in combination, a shaft, a spool having a fixed hub fastened to said l shaft, saidy spool having a back Wall orflange and a drum surface, and a plurality of arms pivoted to the back Wall of said spool and ar ranged as kick off membersto dislodge a coil of Wire Wound on said spool;

7. A sliding hub lock including in combination Witha shaft, a cylindrical hub eccentrically mounted on said shaft, said hub having an annular groove therein concentric with the hub axis and eccentric with respect to\the .shaft axis, a ring rotatable in said groove,fthe

` inner periphery of said ring being eccentric with respect to said shaft, and a hand Wheel connected to said ringfor rotating it in said groove to' clamp said hub tosaid shaft when turned in one direction and unlock said hub from said shaft. when turned in the opposite `direction. Y In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subscribed my name at Aurora, Illinois, Kane 40`count. Y

` y ARTHUR K. 'SANDERSON lah 

